L-Carnitine Supplementation Combined with Aerobic Training Does Not Promote Weight Loss in Moderately Obese Women

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolph G. Villani ◽  
Jenelle Gannon ◽  
Megan Self ◽  
Peter A. Rich

L-Carnitine (L-C) transports fatty acids into mitochondria for oxidation and is marketed as a weight loss supplement. In a double-blind investigation to test the weight loss efficacy of L-C, 36 moderately overweight premenopausal women were pair matched on Body Mass Index (BMI) and randomly assigned to two groups (N = 18). For 8 weeks the L-C group ingested 2 g twice daily of L-C, while the placebo (P) group ingested the same amount of lactose. All subjects walked for 30 min (60—70% maximum heart rate) 4 days/ week. Body composition, resting energy expenditure (REE) and substrate utilization were estimated before and after treatment. For the subjects who completed the study (15 P, 13 L-C), no significant changes in mean total body mass (TBM), fat mass FM, and resting lipid utilization occurred over time, nor were there any significant differences between groups for any variable. Conversely REE increased significantly for all subjects, but no between group differences existed. Five of the L-C group experienced nausea or diarrhea and consequently did not complete the study. Eight weeks of L-C ingestion and walking did not significantly alter the TBM or FM of overweight women, thereby casting doubt on the efficacy of L-C supplementation for weight loss.

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (06) ◽  
pp. 851-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ho-Jun Kim ◽  
Dympna Gallagher ◽  
Mi-Yeon Song

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a device that analyzes the current conduction differences between the fat and water components is widely used for reasons that include convenience of use, non-invasiveness, safety, and low cost. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) allows for the assessment of total body and regional lean and fat tissues and bone mineral content (BMC). The objective of this study was to compare body composition assessments by BIA and DXA before and after a 6-week herbal diet intervention program in 50 pre-menopausal women [mean ± SD: age 30.58 ± 6.15, body mass index (BMI) 31.72 ± 3.78]. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was measured by BIA and anthropometry. Lean body mass (LBM), body fat (BF), BMC and percent body fat (%BF) were measured by BIA and DXA. Highly significant correlations were observed between BIA and DXA measurements for LBM, BF, BMC and %BF (r = 0.73, 0.93, 0.53, 0.79, respectively) before the intervention. Differences between BIA and DXA measurements were observed in LBM, BF, %BF and BMC before intervention ( p < 0.01) where WHR by BIA was significantly higher compared to anthropometry before ( p < 0.01) and after the intervention ( p < 0.01). BIA underestimated LBM by 1.85 kg and overestimated BF by 2.54 kg compared to DXA before the intervention. Although BIA and DXA showed highly significant correlations for LBM, BF, BMC and %BF before the intervention, they did not produce statistically comparable results in pre-menopausal Korean women and therefore should not be used interchangeably when measuring body composition.


2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darryn S. Willoughby

This study examined 12 wk of resistance training and cystoseim canariensis supplementation on serum levels of myostatin and follistatin-like related gene (FLRG) and muscle strength and body composition. Twenty-two untrained males were randomly assigned to a placebo (PLC) or myostatin binder (MYO) group in a double-blind fashion. Blood was obtained before and after 6 and 12 wk of training. PLC and MYO trained thrice weekly using 3 sets of 6 to 8 repetitions at 85% to 90% 1 repetition maximum. MYO ingested 1200 mg/d of cystoseim canariensis. Data were analyzed with 2-way ANOVA. After training, total body mass, fat-free mass, muscle strength, thigh volume/mass, and serum myostatin and FLRG increased for both groups (P < 0.05); however, there were no differences between groups (P > 0.05). Twelve wk of heavy resistance training and 1200 mg/d of cystoseim canariensis supplementation appears ineffective at inhibiting serum myostatin and increasing muscle strength and mass or decreasing fat mass.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Anne Lene Nordengen ◽  
Linn Kristin Lie Øyri ◽  
Stine Marie Ulven ◽  
Truls Raastad ◽  
Kirsten Bjørklund Holven ◽  
...  

Abstract Obesity is associated with increased muscle mass and muscle strength. Methods taking into account the total body mass to reveal obese older individuals at increased risk of functional impairment are needed. Therefore, we aimed to detect methods to identify obese older adults at increased risk of functional impairment. Home-dwelling older adults (n 417, ≥ 70 years of age) were included in this cross-sectional study. Sex-specific cut-off points for two obesity phenotypes (waist circumference (WC) and body fat mass (FM %)) were used to divide women and men into obese and non-obese groups, and within-sex comparisons were performed. Obese women and men, classified by both phenotypes, had similar absolute handgrip strength (HGS) but lower relative HGS (HGS/total body mass) (P < 0·001) than non-obese women and men, respectively. Women with increased WC and FM %, and men with increased WC had higher appendicular skeletal muscle mass (P < 0·001), lower muscle quality (HGS/upper appendicular muscle mass) (P < 0·001), and spent longer time on the stair climb test and the repeated sit-to-stand test (P < 0·05) than non-obese women and men, respectively. Absolute muscle strength was not able to discriminate between obese and non-obese older adults. However, relative muscle strength in particular, but also muscle quality and physical performance tests, where the total body mass was taken into account or served as an extra load, identified obese older adults at increased risk of functional impairment. Prospective studies are needed to determine clinically relevant cut-off points for relative HGS in particular.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 174550652093237
Author(s):  
Gili Joseph ◽  
Rinat Arviv-Eliashiv ◽  
Riki Tesler

Background: Obesity is an independent risk factor for many diseases. Many studies have investigated the benefits of losing weight as well as the best methods for weight loss. This research evaluated the impact of various weight loss programs on health enhancement among overweight women aged 40–60 years. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study that analyzed data from 145 overweight women in weight loss programs. Each woman joined one of four programs: 8 weeks of exercise plus diet (exe + nutr), 8 weeks of diet only (nutrition), 8 weeks of exercise only, or a control group. Women completed a psychological questionnaire and also underwent anthropometric tests, blood pressure checks, a predicted maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) test on an ergometer bicycle, a one-leg balance test, straight leg test, and a sit and reach test, both before and after the program. Participants also provided a blood sample. Results: All of the measured variables improved in the exe + nutr and nutrition programs when compared with the control group; the exe + nutr group improved the most: body mass index, −1.3 kg/m2; body fat, −2.9%; lean body mass, +1.1; VO2 max, +4.8; body image, +1.02; and p < 0.01. Conclusion: The hypothesis-generating findings showed that weight loss programs improved anthropometric, biochemical, physiological, physical, and psychological variables in women aged 40–60 years. The program that included diet restriction with exercise, guidance, and regular counseling showed the best results.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Morin ◽  
Catherine Bégin ◽  
Julie Maltais-Giguère ◽  
Alexandra Bédard ◽  
André Tchernof ◽  
...  

Weight loss has been associated with changes in eating behaviors and appetite sensations that favor a regain in body weight. Since traditional weight loss approaches emphasize the importance of increasing cognitive dietary restraint (CDR) to achieve negative energy imbalance, it is difficult to untangle the respective contributions of energy restriction and increases in CDR on factors that can eventually lead to body weight regain. The present study aimed at comparing the effects of energy restriction alone or in combination with experimentally induced CDR on eating behavior traits, appetite sensations, and markers of stress in overweight and obese women. We hypothesized that the combination of energy restriction and induced CDR would lead to more prevalent food cravings, increased appetite sensations, and higher cortisol concentrations than when energy restriction is not coupled with induced CDR. A total of 60 premenopausal women (mean BMI: 32.0 kg/m2; mean age: 39.4 y) were provided with a low energy density diet corresponding to 85% of their energy needs during a 4-week fully controlled period. At the same time, women were randomized to either a condition inducing an increase in CDR (CDR+ group) or a condition in which CDR was not induced (CRD− group). Eating behavior traits (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and Food Craving Questionnaire), appetite sensations (after standardized breakfast), and markers of stress (Perceived Stress Scale; postawakening salivary cortisol) were measured before (T = 0 week) and after (T = 4 weeks) the 4-week energy restriction, as well as 3 months later. There was an increase in CDR in the CDR+ group while no such change was observed in the CDR− group (p=0.0037). No between-group differences were observed for disinhibition, hunger, cravings, appetite sensations, perceived stress, and cortisol concentrations. These results suggest that a slight increase in CDR has no negative impact on factors regulating energy balance in the context of energy restriction.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-145
Author(s):  
JOYCE M. PEIPERT ◽  
VIRGINIA A. STALLINGS ◽  
GERARD T. BERRY ◽  
JULE ANNE D. HENSTENBURG

Dietary caloric restriction, as a means to induce weight loss, is seldom used as a treatment of obesity in infancy for fear that permanent stunting of growth may result.1-4 Thus, there is little information on controlled weight loss as the treatment for infant obesity or, more importantly, its effect on growth in length, head circumference, and fat-free body mass during weight loss.5 We present a case of an obese infant who, secondary to a metabolic disorder, required nutritional support both intravenously and by nasogastric tube. During 15 months, the patient's resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured to determine an appropriate caloric intake to promote weight loss and later weight maintenance.


1929 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-324
Author(s):  
R. CUMMING ROBB

1. Throughout post-natal life the relative weights of the pituitary body, thyroid, thymus and adrenals in the rabbit may be expressed by the equation y = axk + c. 2. A similar association is indicated in the rat for the weights of eyeballs, liver, pancreas, hypophysis, thyroid, adrenals, submaxillary glands, kidney and fresh skeleton (data from Donaldson, 1924). 3. In giant and pigmy rabbits, the ultimate proportions of body parts are not the same, but (for any given body weight) corresponding tissues in the two groups tend to exhibit an identical relation to total body mass. 4. The adrenals and testes of the Polish rabbits are relatively much larger than those of the Flemish. But in each case the growth of the adrenal approximates to a constant power function of body weight. Moreover, in these two groups and in their hybrids, the growth of the testes adheres to a simple association with adrenal weight identical for each. 5. These data suggest the generalisation that in a growing organism the magnitude of any part tends to be a specific function of the total body mass or of some portion so related to the whole. 6. These associations may be explained by surmising that each tissue is in equilibrium with the internal milieu with regard to the distribution of nutrient growth essentials; that in each case the equilibrium point would be determined by the nature of the cell and after differentiation would tend to remain constant; and that the relative enlargement of each tissue is limited by the excess of the equilibrium value over the katabolic expenditure. 7. According to the above hypothesis of organ growth, the equation y = axk + c may possess a physical significance. Eight types of growth relationships may thus exist, differing because of the apparent inactivity of one or more constants in this equation.


Obesity ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1679-1684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongjian You ◽  
Xuewen Wang ◽  
Karin M. Murphy ◽  
Mary F. Lyles ◽  
Jamehl L. Demons ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (2) ◽  
pp. E218-E224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Kok ◽  
Ferdinand Roelfsema ◽  
Janneke G. Langendonk ◽  
Caroline C. de Wit ◽  
Marijke Frölich ◽  
...  

We recently showed that prolactin (PRL) release is considerably enhanced in obese women in proportion to the size of their visceral fat mass. PRL release is inhibited by dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) activation, and dietary restriction/weight loss are associated with increased dopaminergic signaling in animals. Therefore, we hypothesized that enhanced PRL release in obese humans would be reversed by weight loss. To evaluate this postulate, we measured 24-h plasma PRL concentrations at 10-min intervals in 11 obese premenopausal women (BMI 33.3 ± 0.7 kg/m2) before and after weight loss (50% reduction of overweight/15% absolute weight loss, using a very low-calorie diet) in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. The 24-h PRL concentration profiles were analyzed by a peak detection program (Cluster) and a wave form-independent deconvolution technique (Pulse). Spontaneous 24-h PRL secretion was significantly reduced in obese women [mean daily release, before 128 ± 24 vs. after weight loss 110 ± 17 μg/liter distribution volume (Vdl)−1 × 24 h, P = 0.05]. Body weight loss particularly blunted PRL secretory burst mass (Pulse area, before 230 ± 28 vs. after weight loss 221 ± 31 μg/Vdl−1 × 24 h, P = 0.03), whereas burst frequency was unaffected (no. of pulses, before 11 ± 1 vs. after weight loss 12 ± 1 n/24 h, P = 0.69). Thus elevated PRL secretion rate in obese women is significantly reduced after loss of 50% of overweight. We speculate that amelioration of deficit D2R-mediated neurotransmission and/or diminutions of circulating leptin/estrogen levels might be involved in the physiology of this phenomenon.


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